Brass Rail Beverage

0 characters.
We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters. Awesome. Thanks for the review!

Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the place's attributes and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately visited the place. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.

View:
Place Reviews

User Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by ffejherb:

4.3/5 rDev -7.1%

I stopped in Brass Rail Beverage to have a look around when I was on my way to Hershey via Rt. 322. It's quite spacious on the inside and there seemed to be plenty of parking outside. They also have a marquee outside displaying several of their case specials for the week. I also like the fact that they have a walk-in cooler area where you can go in and select your own cold beer, rather than asking what they have cold. The staff was friendly and greeted me upon my entrance. They also asked if they could help in any way. Immediately upon entering, I noticed all their microbrews on the left side of the front of the store. The area was a bit smaller than I had anticipated, but they still had a good selection, including all of the PA breweries (Troegs, Stoudt's, ABC, Weyerbacher, Lancaster, etc.) as well as a fairly good selection of other US names (Rogue, Smuttynose, Bell, DFH, Stone, etc.). Most of the macros were in the back aisles, as well as most of the imports. Their prices seemed a bit lower than other distributors I've been in around Central PA. Not much cheaper, though; maybe $1 or $2 less than standard. I picked up a variety case of Yards for $27.99, which included their Pale Ale, IPA, ESB and Saison. The bottles had some dust and cobwebs when I opened it. Not sure how long it was sitting, but it wasn't listed at a "special" price. I will definitely stop in fron time to time when I'm in the area.

EDIT 12/9/06 - I am upgrading the "service" score to a perfect 5, due to the fact that I received correspondence from the owner about a day after I posted my initial review. He was concerned about the dust and cobwebs on my bottles and offered a full refund if I wasn't completely satisfied. I found this to be excellent customer service, and applaud Brass Rail Beverage for going above and beyond my expectations. Please also note that I wasn't really upset about the dust; I was just noting to be as specific as possible. Thanks again!

So glad I took my wife here before an afternoon of shopping in Hershey. The service and the food in the deli was fantastic. Great bottle selection, both warm and cold. Enjoyed a Ballast Point while chomping down a pastrami sandwich. Will definitely be spreading the word to my friends. I will be back for food and a case (or two) soon.

I was on vacation with my wife heading to Hershey Park and saw a sign for Brass Rail Beverage. We thought we'd check it out and see what beers they have that we can't find at home in the Boston area. The store is a very clean and well organized. They only sell beer by the case, but each brand has a small sign letting you know the price, brewer and a brief description of the beer. The front half of the store is all craft beer with the macro beers in the back. Brass Rail carry's beer from Stone, Dogfish Head, Rouge, some local PA brews (including Victory and Troegs) and regional beers like Bells and Great Lakes.

Other than the cashier, we were the only people in the store. The cashier was very friendly and let us know we can buy singles and growler fills at the deli next door. Prices for the cases we purchased were reasonable. We got some Two Hearted and a Great Lakes mix pack. Things we can't get at home. Each was about about $30-35. Two wheel hand carts are available if you're buying multiple cases.

If you're heading to Hershey and want to bring home some good regional beers definitely check out Brass Rail and the Brass Rail Deli next door for singles.

I have been in here a few times now, figured it was time for a review. Upon entering you see all the racks of beer laid out in front of you, with the registers to your right. Vibe is pretty good, as is the service, with a few people around to answer any questions you may have.

Quality has always been pretty good. I have only ever seen one or two out of date cases on the shelves. The selection has always been very good, although not as good as Westy's. They have quite a few exclusives, such as Founders, that nobody else can get. Prices are on-par or slightly above the areas average.

Overall a really solid distributor that I will continue to visit when I am in the area.

I have been here several times and the people working there are always friendly and very helpfull. While checking out I was asked if I found everything. There were a couple of cases I was looking for and the person took the time and checked to see if these were cases they could get. I was also told that if I called in when looking for a beer if they don't have it but could get they will do there best to get it in.

They always have a good selection and get some of the harder to find stuff. All of their cases are marked with prices and I haven't had a case that's past its prime. I will be going back again.

After reading many reviews here I was anxious to visit this place.
A couple of weeks ago we went to hershey's preopening day and stopped in.
Although we didn't stop to buy any cases the distrubutor itself looked clean neat and well stock. They also appeared to have a good soda collection.
Went to the deli for some single and indeed had a nice selection. That being said I would also point out that the beer selection was about what I would expect in the Philly area.
That being said I is also good to know that on our way into Hershey we can stop and get a couple of good sixes.
A good place to keep in mind or add to the fine list of beer places between Reading and Harrisburg.

Took a trip to Hershey with my wife and daughter and was looking for a place to score some good stuff.. thank you fellow BA'ers for telling me about this place!! what a gem this was for me!!

The guy Cisco and his wife who run these places are awesome! I grabbed a case of fresh bells two hearted here but was really amazed with the selection.. i'm gonna do a separate review of the deli but want to give these guys a big thumbs up!! Great selection and service... so happy i made the trip... read my review of the deli and you will see why!!!

This is my first official review. I was in Hershey for a DMB show and was hoping to score some hard to find beers. Actually, the place to go for variety is next door at the Brass Rail Deli owned by the same person. Cisco, the owner, sells to himself so that you the consumer can try different beers. A mix six of any size bottles gets you 25% off. The selection was excellent and from my understanding, always changing. Cisco was a big help asking me if i was looking for anything in particular. he even went so far as to tell me to email him next time to see if he could hold a particular beer for me.
The food in the deli was quite tasty and made to order with quality ingredients. My only complaint is that the sandwiches could be a little bigger.
I will definitely return to the deli and beverage store.

Cisco knows his stuff and is willing to help you make a good decision on purchasing your brew. Prices are a bit over the top at the deli (I've never been to the distributor), but it does not keep me coming back every week. 25% off six singles or more helps take some of the sting out.

Six taps are always pouring different and tasty stuff. Prices from the tap are usually a bit high for the area, but you do not go to the Brass Rail for bargains, you go to get stuff you cannot get anywhere else within hundreds of miles.

Never tried the food either, but always a pleasure to go to. Just wish it was opened Sundays/later than 9pm.

Anyone located in Central PA and LOVES good beer knows about Cisco's distributor... now adjacent Deli. He keeps top quality beers on tap to sample, enjoy or take home in a growler. Plus his "mix six" with 25% off is unheard of around here.

Sit, relax, discuss, and enjoy the highly ranked beers on BA. Quality delicatessens and wings to enjoy with your high quality beer. He even has back issues of BA.com to read.

I suggest the Brass Rail to everyone I talk to that appreciates quality beer.

Ok, I have been going to Campbelltown yearly now for 5 years for a soccer tournament and never had the opportunity to stop. Well, this year I actually had some time to check it out. What a pleasant surprise. I'm reviewing just the distributorship here.

Q: Wow, just amazing. From the minute you walk in you realize how awesome this place is. Well organized, neat, sparking clean, prices all clearly marked, amazing. The quality of beer was second to none, really. I still shake my head thinking about it.

S: Awesome. The lady at the register greeted me immediately and asked if I needed any help. I was not there more than 5 minutes when another person asked if I needed help. Cool.

S: OK, this is what just makes this place totally rockin. The selection was unbelievable. US craft included all the locals of course, Victory, Troegs, Stoudts, Sly Fox and more. Other great breweries like Founders, Bells, Hoppin Frog, Green Flash, Bear Republic, Coronado (new to PA), Terrapin, DFH, and more and more. Where this place stood out to me was the Belgians. All nice and neatly organized I saw Rochefort 8 and 10, St. Bernardus Abt 12, Westmalle, LaTrappe, Oval, Chimay, Corsendock and many more. Truly incredible.

V: Here is the only little knock. The pricing was fair, but far from cheap. Still, the selection overtakes the pricing no questions asked.

Overall I was amazed, I just wish it were closer to me. Still, at an hour plus drive I will definitely return, just to get the Belgians. Great, great place, kudos. Anyone in the area, STOP IN!

I've been to Brass Rail a handful of times and am really impressed with the consistency of this shop. Cisco & Nikki do a fantastic job here. I'm always greeted with a smile and asked if I need assistance almost immediately upon entering the doors. The place is spotless, neat, and very well laid out. Stock seems to be rotated and just about everything has a price listed (a huge plus for me). Selection is fantastic - Bell's Founders, Tröegs, Bear Republic, Victory, Weyerbacher, Hoppin' Frog, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Ithaca, Ipswich, the Shelton Brothers porfolio, Stoudts, Sly Fox, you get the idea. You will find something here and leave happy. Case prices are reasonable. There is also a small area with gourmet sodas if that's your thing. Worth a stop of you are anywhere nearby.

I was in the Hershey area so I decided to take the 10 minute trip to the Brass Rail Deli/Beverage. I checked out the ditributor side first. As soon as you walk in the craft beer is on your left and right. There was a pretty good selection of beers. A lot of locals as well as Southern Tier, Lots of Founders, and a bunch of other great microbreweries. The prices were a tad high, but good luck finding these beers elsewhere while in the area. Overall the distributor's selection was just "ok".

Next I walked around outside to the Deli. I was amazed when I walked in. To your right was the deli and to your left were hundreds of bottles of different beer sitting out. At the back of the store was also a cooler with 4-5 doors with even more. Barely any macro beers at all. To say the least the selection was very impressive. Every bottle/can was individually priced. In addition they also had 6 beers on tap. I was lucky enough to get one of the last nitro drafts of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout. It was poured into a Sam Adams Pint glass, and was absolutely delicious. I wish I would have looked better at what the others were on draft, as I don't recall them now. They were all pretty uncommon/rare micro brews.

I didn't try any of the food, but it looked like your typical deli food. The staff was very friendly and asked multiple times if I had any questions or needed any help. I believe I spoke with the owner, who was very beer saavy.

If you buy 6 or more beers(for take out) it is 10% off, which isn't bad. I ended up getting Oskar Blues Gorden Imperial IPA, Boulder Mojo Risen Double IPA, Voodoo Pillzilla, Founders Red Rye, Founders Double Trouble, and Weyerbacher Fireside Ale. All of that plus a 12oz draft of Founder KBS was around $30. It's a bit pricey, but for the selection, it can't really be beat.

Some beers represented there: Founders, Southern Tier, Avery, Hoppin' Frog, Voodoo, Boulder, Flying Dog, Flying Fish, Troegs, Appalachain, Weyerbacher, Victory, High and Mighty, Brewer's Art, Moylanders, Bear Republic, Stone and many more. There was also a decent amount of imported beers and Belgian beer. I'm not too much into that scene so I didn't look too closely as to what was available.

I am sure I reviewed this place before about 2 years ago but alas it is gone and I revisited yesterday to stock up for a superbowl party.
Fairly unassuming concrete building on 322. Walking in the auto door the craft beer is on shelves to the left. Lots of BMC and other stuff back to the right, dont worry about that section you can find gold in the front! There is a solid mix of local regional craft brews like weyerbacher, victory, sly fox etc. But also a great mix of micros from across the country. Bells, Hoppin Frog, Laughing Dog, Erie, Thomas Hooker, Stone, Fort Collins etc. Also Cisco puts up the average BA scores for the beer on the price tag per case which is very cool. He also has a large book with ratings and reviews for anything he has in stock. Service is VERY helpful and friendly, three different staffers asked me if I needed help and they were all jovial, even had a fairly knowledgeable stout conversation with one of the workers, mostly about milk versus imperial stouts. Good stuff. I picked up a clipper city heavy seas variety for $34. with 6 barleywines and 6 imperial stouts in there this seems like a steal! I also saw a case of Dark Horizon on the shelf and almost bought it, but it was $120 for 6 bottle case, just cant do it. So went next door and got a single for $25.
Very excellent shop for this area, I will make it a must visit every time I come back into Middletown to visit family and friends.

Really surprised to find this place close to my brothers house. Great case selection and an even more interesting singles selection over in the deli part of the store. Singles that you just don't see everywhere, not even sure how the owner got his hands on all of them. He also was pouring 6 top-notch brews on tap in the deli area. The case prices seemed reasonable, singles prices were a little high, then again, you can't find this stuff elsewhere in the area, so you will pay. I will return again when I am not as rushed for time.

I love Brass Rail. I have made a few stops here when I'm in the Hershey area. They have one of the best case selections in the area. They have all the big PA micros (Troegs, Victory, Stoudts, and so on..) plus they have a great selection of Founder's, Bells, Bear Republic and Avery. Their selection of imports is pretty impressive as well.

One thing I like about Brass Rail is that you are greeted by the big selection of micros as you walk in the door. It's not like the other stores where they hit you in the face with big fancy sale displays for "water." They know what's important and they let you know right off the bat!

I've always had great, friendly service when I've been there. The owner knows his stuff! The prices seem a dollar or two more expensive than some places...but they are average for PA.

Quality: Well-lit and clean, the lay-out is beer geek friendly. Selection is top-notch.

Service: Service is good, friendly and happy to assist.

Selection: Fantastic selection that rivals Westy's for Central PA supremacy. Pennichuck, Two Brothers, Thomas Hooker, Founders and Bells highlight an excellent product line that is fresh (none of the dusty old offerings here).

A must-visit if you are on US-322 between Lebanon and Hershey. The Brass Rail also just opened a deli/bottleshop in the same facility, offering the same great selection for take-out.

I'm very new to the craft beer world, but after reading very favorable reviews of Brass Rail, (and given that it's very convenient on US-322, on my way home from work), I figured I'd stop by.

All three people I spoke with were very friendly and eager to help me out. I explained my very novice experience level, and the two guys spent plenty of time answering my questions and giving suggestions for what would match my tastes.

Given that I'm new, and that this is the first PA distributor I've been to, take my value, selection and quality ratings with a grain of salt, but I certainly wish every store I went to had such good service. (And as one of the other reviews mentioned them opening a deli, I'm looking forward to having even more reasons to stop in, in the future.)

I was in the area recently and decided to visit Brass Rail Beverage, I am really glad I did. I like the layout first of all, the racks of cases is a great display choice with great labeling and organization based on style with Belgians, American Craft and Imports all in their assigned location.

The quality of the selections is great with some hard to find, but very great choices of each style of beer, not only the brands that produce them - for example St Bernardous, Tripel Karmeliet in Belgians and Sam Smith, Old speckled hen in British ales

They have the selection covered too! Right as I walk in I see Southampton, Stone, Founders, Dfh, Avery, Allagash and Troeg's. The also have Oskar Blues on hand, Bell's, Middle Ages, Southern Tier, Brooklyn as well as Locals like Stoudt's, ABC, and Yard's

The service is great here too! In just a matter of minutes I was asked if I needed help twice and the way they went about it was just very down to earth/friendly.

The prices are worth the short drive from Harrisburg as the value is reasonable and many of the cases like MOM by Rogue are not available year round or the fact you can get Rubaeus somewhere other than Philly make it a no-brainer as far as distance. This is my kind of Beer distributor - clean, neat and well stocked with the focus on craft beer.